Dental caries prevalence and dental health behaviour in HIV infected children.

OBJECTIVES

To determine dental caries prevalence in a group of HIV positive children and their reported dental health behaviour.

DESIGN

Standardized epidemiological dental examination and structured interview.

SETTING

Paediatric HIV outpatient department in a South London hospital.

STUDY POPULATION: HIV-positive children attending the above outpatient clinic over a 6-month period (30 subjects) and parents (20 informants).

METHODS

Epidemiological examination of children was undertaken by one trained and calibrated examiner to determine caries prevalence using dmft/DMFT. Parents were interviewed to obtain information on their children's dental health behaviour: toothbrushing, diet, fluoride; oral medication and dental attendance were explored.

RESULTS

Sixty-three per cent (n = 19) of children had dental caries experience, much of it untreated. Mean dmft/DMFT was 4.4. Sixty per cent (n = 18) of all children presented with active or untreated caries and the care index for those at/under age 5 years was low (10%). Unfavourable dental health behaviour included: consumption of nonmilk extrinsic sugars at night, use of sugar-based medications, low fluoride intake, late commencement of toothbrushing and poor dental attendance. Dental health was not considered a priority for many of these children. Parents did not necessarily disclose their child's HIV status on dental attendance.

CONCLUSION

Caries prevalence was high, much of the disease untreated, and unfavourable dental health behaviour, including the use of sugar-based medicines was common. HIV infected children should be considered a high caries risk and receive appropriate dental care, in terms of both treatment and preventive services, following confirmation of seropositivity.